|
|
Sir Steve Bullock
knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to local government.
Is this because he is
Labour Party's favourite elected Mayor? Not that there are many about and even
fewer who succeeded in being re-elected to office.
But politics aside -
Steve has always been an open and approachable man and living in Forest Hill
has done something to balance the interests of this end of the borough.
So congratulations
Steve. We look forward to an even more regal progress in that red Triumph
Herald ...
We would also like to
congratulate Dr Brian Henry Fisher, GP at Wells Park Practice in Sydenham, who
received an MBE for services to healthcare. |
Steve was first elected Mayor in 2002. Elected Mayors
was a Labour Party initiative to create a high profile accountable executive
leader to both bring better management to local authorities and encourage more
local democracy.
Appalling turnouts of less than 30% suggest that
popular local democracy has yet to arrive. But what about the effectiveness in
managing Lewisham in general and Sydenham in particular? Not for Sydenham Town
to judge but others have ...
In the same week that Steve got knighted a Conservative
Party taskforce adopted Labour's idea and extended it further - proposing more
Mayors and greater powers. The Conservative Cities Taskforce report (news story
«here») calls for directly elected leaders
to serve a four-year fixed term, paid a salary "commensurate with the level of
responsibility" and subject to "loose scrutiny" by an elected
assembly.
Meanwhile our local Conservative party in Lewisham are
leading in a campaign to abolish the whole concept (see story
«here»). So confusion whether elected
Mayors are a good or bad idea. You might like to join the ongoing discussion
and vote here:
Sir Steve commented:
"It is a privilege to
have received this honour. I became a politician to help improve the lives of
local people and I am deeply touched that my efforts have been recognised in
this way."
“It was a huge
surprise when I found out I had been given a knighthood, and a lot of credit
also has to go to the people I have worked with over the years at Lewisham,
London Councils and the other bodies I have served on.”
|
